Sheriff Country on CBS season 1, episode 2 review

SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 2.

The Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country has passed its first big test. Season 1, Episode 2 is proof that the CBS series can successfully incorporate its parent program — without relying on Fire Country to tell a good story. It’s the exact right balance between old and new, with only a few concerning missteps.

“Firewall” picks up where the series premiere left off, with Sheriff Mickey Fox’s daughter Skye as the key witness in the murder of her ne’er do well boyfriend Brandon. The title refers to the proverbial firewall that Mickey tries to keep between her personal and professional lives, as explained by her ex-husband Travis Fraley. For the most part, this plot moves as it logically should. Mickey keeps as much distance as she can (and is expected to). Skye wants to help the investigation instead of sitting passively. Mickey and Travis actually consider the possibility of Skye’s guilt, rather than assuming she must be innocent. The audience doesn’t have to suspend disbelief much at all.

The arrival of Diane Farr as her Fire Country character Sharon Leone is a nice touch, because it’s not just a cameo to boost interest in the new series. Beyond…